Next time you need to call an Uber, or just want to forget about finding parking for a night out, consider one of these five local + public transit options zipping around Cola.

🚌 The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority, better known as The COMET, is a public transit service for Richland + Lexington counties that offers a number of routes that run once every 30-60 minutes on weekdays and has limited schedules for weekends.

It launched in 2000 and currently transports more than 2.4 million passengers annually on a fleet of more than 80 buses, vans, and trolleys.

How to ride
Purchase passes
Plan your trip
Download The COMET's visitor travel guide.

🚌 The Downtown Connectors are a facet of The COMET and connects Soda Citizens to the popular downtown destinations of Columbia through loops — think Main Street, the Vista, Five Points, UofSC, Segra Park, and more. Psst, and you can ride for $1. Yes, $1.

The Orbit is a downtown loop running every 30 minutes on weekdays from 7:15 a.m.–7:36 p.m. It runs by Sumter, Blossom, Assembly, and Richland Streets with stops by the State House, UofSC, Prisma Health Baptist + Richland Library. Find the map, infographic, and stop schedule for The Orbit route here.

🚌 Kola Kruze is a rideshare company built for students, by students. It prides itself on being available, local, reliable, and safe.

Developed by a COLA-native, Kola Kruze is a mostly student-focused rideshare company that will drive you to game days, the Charlotte airport, and around Columbia.

Oh, and did we mention the backseat will be full of complimentary water bottles, juices, candy, chips hand sanitizer?

🚌 Ride.Jaunt — a Charlotte-based electric vehicle company — is coming soon to Columbia and will be free to ride. Each vehicle will hold up to five passengers and will begin operating in the Vista, Main Street District, BullStreet District, and Five Points.